"Teach the Wife When She First Arrives" Trajectories and Pathways Into Violent and Non-Violent Masculinities in Hue City and Phu Xuyen District, Viet Nam

This report presents findings from a life history qualitative study conducted in Hue and Phu Xuyen, Viet Nam. The research explores how individual men’s life experiences shape their pathways into either violent or non-violent expressions of masculinity. It identifies key moments such as childhood experiences, schooling, military service, and community expectations that influence attitudes and behaviours toward gender and violence. The study highlights how violence is often normalized as a means of asserting male authority, particularly in private settings, while also pointing to alternative, more equitable masculinities that emerge in certain social and economic contexts. These findings reveal critical opportunities for intervention, particularly during early life stages, and underscore the importance of addressing gender norms in schools, families, and communities. Recommendations focus on promoting positive parenting, engaging schools and educators in gender equality education, partnering with communities to challenge harmful norms, and strengthening national policies to support non-violence and equal opportunities for all. This publication was produced under the UN Joint Programme Partners for Prevention (2008 to 2017) implemented by UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, and UNV, with support from Australia.